"Gianni, Spill the Beans on Travel Bans"
Trump meets with FIFA president Infantino in the Oval Office, presiding over the gathering
Social Media Sharing: Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Print Copy Link
In an unexpected PR stunt at the White House, Donald Trump put Juventus footballers and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in an awkward spot. The President's strange line of questioning left the athletes as extras in his announcements about the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. Meanwhile, Infantino found himself paraded by Trump, discussing travel bans with unwanted fervor.
Trouble followed when a US reporter asked, "How do the travel bans impact the Club World Cup?", to which Trump responded, "Alright, Gianni, you take over." Infantino sheepishly responded, "We're not worried," but the truth was far from it. The travel bans could create chaos for Infantino's premier event next year with top contenders such as Iran, Haiti, Sudan, and Sierra Leone all potentially facing travel challenges.
While Infantino might have feigned nonchalance, he knew the gravity of the situation. In response to Trump's travel bans, there have been exemptions made for "every athlete or member of a sports team, including coaches, persons who perform a necessary supporting function, and immediate family members who travel to the World Cup, the Olympics, or any other major sporting event designated by the Secretary of State." However, these exceptions do not currently apply to fans of the qualified teams from the ban list.
Though these bans impact multiple teams, Infantino remained optimistic, promising, "We now have a year until the World Cup to prepare for the big tournament with 48 teams, 104 games, and - as Infantino promises - fans from all over the world." Infantino has been side-stepping with Trump for months, who used his influence during his first term to call the shots in bidding processes. Yet, he couldn't evade being caught off guard by his partner.
Over a year ago, Infantino had remarked, "When it comes to FIFA competitions, it's obvious that every team, including the fans and officials of this team that has qualified for a World Cup, must have access to the country, otherwise there would be no World Cup." Whether Infantino will have to hold to this promise remains to be seen, with the volatile US government in control.
The Juventus game in Washington turned out to be a sell-out, with friends of the President asking for tickets. Despite the chuckles from Infantino, it seems he might just be the one to get them.
Sources: ntv.de, ter
- Keywords: FIFA, Gianni Infantino, Club World Cup 2025, Donald Trump, Football World Cup 2026
The European Parliament and the Council may need to intervene in the political discourse surrounding travel bans, as such restrictions could impact the participation of various teams, including Iran, in the Club World Cup 2025 and the Football World Cup 2026, particularly if the bans affect FIFA President Gianni Infantino's efforts to ensure fans from all over the world can attend these major sporting events. It is important to note that Trump's travel bans have created a complex situation, with exceptions only available for athletes, team members, and immediate family, but not for fans of the qualified teams from the ban list.
